Big excitement on The Daily Stroll!
There we were, just strolling along the part of the Appalachian Trail than runs alongside the Housatonic River the way one does on a fine fall afternoon.
Lots of leaves (colorful, falling), ducks (mergansers, swimming) when Splash! That was a big fish!
But not a fish – a beaver thrashing its tail into the water, swimming and diving in a wide ring as if in a display of prowess just for us. Beavers are the official state animal of NY but this was a first sighting. I’ve seen plenty of felled trees and gnawed trunks and dammed streams but beavers are nocturnal and I had never see one.
A little research and, of course, what we were really doing there – quietly looking at the river intending no harm – was wildlife bothering. Beavers thump their paddle-like tails as a warning to other beavers that danger is near. We must have been close to a lodge on the riverbank.
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Looks like it's gliding for pleasure - no doubt there was a practical aim in mind (was the spectacular tail flick and splosh to catch a fish?), but it's beautiful in itself.
My first thought was that it was chasing fish but beavers are entirely vegetarian. They eat aquatic vegetation like lilies and the leaves, bark and wood of trees. They also keep stockpiles of supplies to get through the winter. They thrash and thump their tails to warm other beavers of danger. We must have been close to a riverbank lodge.
Fancy that. I had no idea beavers don't eat fish.
Beavers are amazing engineers and fascinating animals. you are so lucky to have seen this display.